Window cleaner



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,8l5?)l F. LANGLEY WINDOW CLEANER Filed May '7, 1924 2 Sheets-.Sheet l l ///////////////`///WMimM Nov. 13, 192s. 1,691,819

F.v LANGLEY WINDOW CLEANER Fi1ed May '1, 1924 a'sheets-sneet 2 ,47 z5 I if Je Patented Nov. 13, 1928.-

' UNITED -STATES FREDERICK LANGLE'Y,

or coimas, Naw Yonx.

wnrnow CLEANER.

Application med nay '1, 1924. serai iro. 711,682.

matically cleaned without the necessity of the.

operator entering the display compartment to the rear of the window, so that the windows may be daily cleaned in a manner which will not interfere or disturb with fixtures placed near the window.

A further object of this invention is the provision of window cleaning apparatus embodying means for feeding a supply of cleansing liquid in thin film over the window, and improved means for scraping the cleaning liquid together with any foreign matter'from the window.

v Other objects'and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views z,

kFi ure 1 is a side elevation of a window, showing the improved cleaning apparatus as used iu connection therewith.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are cross sectional views, taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, showing improved details of the window cleaning apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only the preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate any improved window` structure, which has associated therewith la casing B, and the improved window cleaning,

apparatus C. l

The window A may be of the plate `glass variety, and the casing B enclosed in the same may include side stile portions l1; the top beads 12; and sill structure 13. The sill structure 13 of the casing B is preferably novel in so far as this invention isconcerned, 'and to the inside of the window A the sill structure 13 preferably comprises a sheet metal gutter 14, which slopes from the sides of the window toward the center of the window, so that water may drain toward the'central point, where a tubular member 15 supplies.

a duct or passagewayY leading from the 14 to a point at the outside of the building in which the window A is provided and as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. lThe gutter may be of any non-corrodib 1e materlal, and not only slopes from the sides of the window toward the central point thereof, but has a downward slo e from the rear edge thereof toward the p ane of the glass, as is illustrated in Figure-2 of the drawin s.

eferring to the improved window cleaning apparatus C the same includes liquid dispensing receptacles 25 and 26 supported upwardly of the window A, at each side thereof, immediately below the bead or to portions 12 of the window casing B, and w ich receptacles are of novel formation, and adapted to receive a supply of watertherein through a pipe 27 which is provided with suitable fittings and discharge openings'leading into openings 29 and 30 in the compartments 25 and 26 respectively for the purpose of conveying water or other cleansing liquid into these receptacles.

The receptacles 25 and 26 are of analogousv formation, being substantially triangular in formation, including top substantially? horizontally positioned walls 32; vertical walls 33 which are adapted to engage against the inner and outer side surfaces of the window A at the topof said window, and includingy diagonali positioned or inclined4 walls y36 and 37 lw ich are bent from the outer edges of the horizontal top walls 32 and which are disposed in vspaced relation at the lower edges ofthe vertical wall 33 toprovide relatively narrow giassageways 39 and 40 at the lower edges o the receptacles 25 and 26, so that water may flowfrom the compartments 43 and 44 of these receptacles, -respectivel in thin lms onto' the outer and inner surfces of the glass or window for the purpose of loosening dirt and foreign materials therefrom. It is of course understood that each of these receptacles 25 and 26 have end walls, and in fact thepipe apparatus 27 communicates through the end walls, as is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein is also clearly shown the narrow passageways 39 and 40. These passageways of course extend for the entire length of the receptacles. v

The improved window cleanin apparatus C furthermore includes means oth inside and outside of the window A for engagement gutter therewith to scrape the lm of water and foreign material fromthe surfaces of the l windows. To this end, at the side stile p ortions 11, and to the outside and to the inside of the window A, guide casings 50 are provided, `which are preferably of sheet metal, substantially constructed, and in each of which guide casings 50 an endless belt 51 is' positioned, at its upper end engagin about a suitable pulley 52 provided there or, and at its lower end engaging about a similar pulley 53; the pulleys 52 and 53 being rotatably supported upon shafts 55 and 56 which bear in the side walls of the guide ca sings 50. It is distinctly1 understood that a air of the belts 51 are rovided at each si e stile 11, one of these elts being to the inside of the window A and the other to the outside. Each of the belts 51 includes a link or stub portion 57, and both at the inside and the outside of the window 'A a rod 59' pivotally bears at its ends in the link 57 of the belts 51 at their respective sides of the window A, and so that the rods 59 extend parallel with the plane of the window, and in a slightly spaced relation therewith. i

Each of the rods 59 4is provided with a scraping structure adapted to rub downwardly over a side surface of the window A, and to this end includes a box 62 of elongated formation and substantially- U-shaped in cross section, and each of which boxes 62 includes a top wall 63, a bottom wall 6%, and a rear wall 65, with a compartment facing in the direction of the window A, and in which compartment felt or other water drying material 66 is received so that it projects outwardly of the box in such relation that it may engage the window A, as will be subsequently mentioned. The boxes are supported upon their respective rods 59 by means of sub- Stantially J-,shaped bracket portions 70, which may be suppliedein any desired number, and

--wlnch are of" peculiar construction so that i the weights thereof, Adiie to the'force of gravity normally tend to urge the box portions 62 toward the window A,'and for this purpose the bracket portions may be .of relatively heavy material, having considerable stock thereon. The boxes 62 on the other hand may be made of some relatively light material such as sheet copper Vor aluminum. At the lower wall of each box 62 a flexible window scraping member 7 3 may be supported, being secured to the lower wall 64: of its respective box by means of rivets or the like, and which at its forward edge projects so that it will engage the window A asis illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawin s. The felt ortion 66 of the box 62, and ne flexible ru ber portion 73 thereof are adapted to engage both the side surfaces of the `window A as the belts 51 are rotated. All the belts are rotated synchronously, and to this end it is preferred that the upper rollers or pulleys 52 at each side of the-window A be connected by means of shafts 55 which extend Vdirection at the saine time. A motor 8O may be supplied, preferably being carried by a wall 8l to the'inside of the window, which may drive a pulley mounted on one of the shafts 55, by means of a belt 83, for the operation of the improved window cleaning apparatus.

It is to be understood that the guide casings 50 are laterally closed in all vdirections except as to the facing walls thereof, and in which facing walls lgrooves 9() are provided so that the rods 59 may extend therethrough to permit their travel with the belts 51. The belts 5 1 are supported in their travel against liability of transverse flexing by means of rollers 92, which are rotatably supported upon cross bolts 93 carried by the side walls of the guide casings 50.

Referring to the operation of the improved cleaning apparatus, water is fed in thin films down. over the inner and outer 4surfaces of the window A, by supplying a certain amount of water to the receptacles 25 and 26; the amount of water which is fed to the receptacles being regulated by means of a conveniently disposed valve 95. It is of course understood that the cleaner structures supporting the felt members 66 and the flexible strips 7 travel with the belts 51, and incident to pivoting of the rods 59 upon the belts, the box structures 62 will always hang lowermost in a compact relation. As the box structures are traveling yupward during rotation of the belts in the direction in which they travel,

and which is indicated by the arrows in Figv ure 2 of the drawings, as they pass over the topmost portion of their travel the weight of the brackets 70 will throw the box portions llO 62 toward the surfaces of the window A, until the rubber strips 73 thereof engage the surfaces of the window, providing a frictional contact therewith, and durino' downward travel on the window the film of water which has been spread over the surfaces of the window, and the felt padding 66 traveling in engagement with the side surfaces of the window A will dry any of the moisture remaining on the window, and thoroughly polish the same, removing any dullness therefrom.

From the foregoing description of the op-' eration of this invention it is apparent that a window cleanin structure has been provided which is nove in operation and which is highly practical, being automatic, and .not

re uiring the presence of a person immediate y adjacent the window A to eiiciently perform the cleaning operation for which it is adapted.

Such changes in the shape, size, and 'arrangement of parts may be made to the form 3f the invention herein shown and described,

is do not depart from the spirit of the inven- 'zion or scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a Window cleaner, a pair of guide :asings for attachment to one side of the pane )f a window at each side edge thereof, each `naving an endless slot, the endless slots of 'she guide casings being in facing relation, pulleys in said guide casings, endless belts rotatably mounted in said casings about said pulleys, a rod extending transversely from guide casing to guide casing and at the ends hereof extending into the slots of said gui de :asings and being" connected to the endless Jelts therein, and means supported by said rod for engaging the facing side of the winiow to scrape against and cleanse the same lurin rotation of said belt.

2. a Window cleaning structure of the :lass described, appair of endless belts for support u on a Window casing to a side of the plane of t e Window along the side edges of Y i the window, a transverse bar having its ends connected'with said endless belts in pivotal manner to permit pivoting of' the same on the belts, a window cleaning element carried by said bar, and weighted arms connected with said bar and depending therefrom for4 pane, a box, a window pane cleaning element carried by said box, and 'depending weighted arms connected vvith said bar and with said box and adapted, lncident to the force of gravity, to maintain the cleaning element in .en- 'gagement with the face of the window pane onlyT during the downward travel of the box along saidwindow pane.

FREDERICK LANGLEY. 

